King Charles and Queen Camilla land in Australia for historic tour ahead of planned protests

King Charles and Queen Camilla land in Australia for historic tour ahead of planned protests

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive in Australia to embark on their tour

GB News
Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 18/10/2024

- 10:40

Updated: 18/10/2024

- 12:46

Republicans have dubbed the royal visit 'The Farewell Oz Tour'

King Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived in Australia for the start of a historic tour of the South Pacific.

The Queen wore a blue silk crepe dress designed by Fiona Clare as she arrived in Sydney, holding an umbrella to shield herself from the rain.


The King, 75, and Queen, 77, left the plane together and were greeted by a number of dignitaries including Australia's Governor-General Sam Mostyn, the King's representative, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon.

Royal Correspondent Cameron Walker, who is on the scene in Sydney reporting on the tour, said: "This is a historic moment for His Majesty the King."

King Charles and Queen Camilla

King Charles and Queen Camilla land in Australia for historic tour ahead of planned protests

Reuters

Cameron Walker

Cameron Walker said 'This is a historic moment for His Majesty the King'

GB News

Ahead of their trip, the royal pair posted a rare heartwarming video to social media, signing it off "Charles R & Camilla R." It started with words from Queen Elizabeth II prior to one of her visits to Australia during her 70-year reign.

The video goes on to show footage of a young King Charles alongside other members of the Royal Family during previous trips to the country throughout the years.

A message was also posted alongside the video, reading: "Ahead of our first visit to Australia as King and Queen, we are really looking forward to returning to this beautiful country to celebrate the extraordinarily rich cultures and communities that make it so special. See you there!"

The six-day trip to Canberra and Sydney will be Charles's first to a realm since he became monarch following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

King Charles and Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla was holding an umbrella as she arrived in Sydney

Reuters

The King and Queen will later travel to Samoa for a three-day state visit and meet world leaders participating in a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which Charles will formally open.

Dr George Gross, royal historian and visiting research fellow at King's College London, said: "This is a tour of significant firsts.

"Although King Charles III has travelled to Australia many times, this will be his first visit there as sovereign and the first tour to the country by a reigning monarch since 2011.

"It will also be the King's first official overseas tour since his cancer diagnosis, his first to a Commonwealth realm and, while visiting Samoa, he will lead the first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting of his reign.

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla wore a Fiona Claire dress for her arrival in Australia

PA

King Charles

Republicans are branding the visit the 'Farewell Oz Tour'

Getty

"It is notable too that he is visiting Australia in the year after his Coronation, as this echoes the 1954 tour by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II following her Coronation in 1953."

Protests are planned by the anti-monarchy group Republic, with its chief executive officer Graham Smith travelling to Australia to lead the events in Canberra and Sydney.

The Australian Republican Movement has branded the visit "The Farewell Oz Tour", as Australia's six state premiers will miss a reception for the King and Queen in Canberra on Monday.

It comes as the King was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer earlier this year and will be pausing his treatment while he is away from the UK.

The overseas tour has been curtailed on advice from doctors, with a visit to New Zealand dropped from the itinerary and other changes made to the programme.

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